Barca are also ­interested in Blind, but their successful pursuit of Vermaelen has strengthened the Old Trafford giants' resolve to beat the Catalans to a player Van Gaal knows well.

Sunday Mirror Sport understands that Ajax are resigned to losing Blind and have already lined up PAOK Athens’ Dutch international Hedwiges Maduro as a replacement.

And after taking advice from his father Danny – the former Dutch international who was on Van Gaal’s coaching staff with Holland – Blind returned from his summer break a week early to begin a training programme designed to get his fitness levels up.

Charlie Crowhurst

Father: Daley Blind's dad, Danny (left), was part of Van Gaal's World Cup backroom team

Blind is seen as the perfect Van Gaal player after playing a key role in Holland’s third-placed finish at the World Cup as he can operate at left-back or as a defensive midfielder.

But he was coy about his future on Saturday night.

Blind said: “What will I do when Louis van Gaal tells me he wants me to come to Manchester United? I will consider it.

"The World Cup has been a massive boost for my experience and I have made no secret that I will listen when a nice offer comes my way.”

Van Gaal is furious he missed out on Vermaelen.

Arsene Wenger was keen to keep him out of Van Gaal’s clutches after losing Robin van Persie to the Reds two years ago.